Teach Us to Number Our Days

I tend to be the type of person who always has one eye on the future, one foot forward, and my hopes fixed on what's to come. Although I have seen the benefits of being prudent and wise with my resources and time, I have also found a temptation, a tendency, that can often result in anxiety and a lack of gratitude with what I have been blessed with. You see, I find myself so often looking and hoping in the future that I miss the precious moments of today. I forget to stop and smell the roses so to speak. I forget to be see every distraction, every hiccup in "my" plans, every detour in my day, as a providential move by the hand of a Father who is making me more like Jesus and seeking to use those all for GOOD in my life (Romans 8:28).

I recently came across Psalm 39:4-7 which reads:

" Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah

Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.

"But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you."

and Psalm 90:12

" Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

These simple passage brings so much truth as the Psalmists prays for a reality check, an ability to understand or comprehend the shortness of his life, and the purpose therein. I guess in my mind I often forget that too. I forget that I don't know how many years, days, or hours I have left before I go home to be with Him. And yet I live as if I have forever on this earth. I look to the future often times and end up living with worry and anxiety because of uncertainty when I don't even know if that future is coming, or how it will all play out. If I only could number my days I might be more faithful with what the Lord has entrusted to me TODAY, and also see every change of plans as a blessing, a divine blessing from a good and gracious Father who has already written all my days (Psalm 139).

My encouragement to you is also to myself- Lord, teach us to number our days. My prayer is that we would seek to use our days to glorify Him in ALL we do, that we would see everything as an opportunity to work as unto Him or bring Him honor and praise, that we would be THANKFUL for everything that comes our way, and that our eyes would always be seeking that which is above. Although we need to be prudent and wise in our planning and preparation for the future, that should never cause us to stubbornly hold onto our agendas or find ourselves in worry over what has not come to pass; for after all, He is the author and we are but vessles in the hands of the PERFECT Father who is working everything together for our good and His glory!